The weight of a nearly four-year war hung heavy in the Florida air as President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Mar-a-Lago. Russia’s attacks had been escalating, targeting Ukraine’s capital and other key cities in the days leading up to this critical meeting – a desperate attempt to forge a path to peace.
A reporter directly challenged Trump, questioning whether recent Russian offensives, particularly around Kherson, signaled a lack of genuine commitment to peace from Vladimir Putin. Trump’s response was unexpected, a nuanced assessment that didn’t fully condemn Russia’s actions.
“No, he is very serious,” Trump asserted, referring to Putin. He immediately added a counterpoint, acknowledging Ukrainian strikes as well. “Ukraine has launched some strong attacks also. You have to.” He then speculated on the origin of explosions within Russia, pointedly dismissing possibilities beyond Ukraine.
Trump’s words hinted at a complex understanding of the conflict, suggesting a reciprocal escalation. He didn’t attribute blame, instead focusing on the potential for resolution. “I don’t think they came from the Congo, I don’t think it came from the United States.”
He painted a picture of two nations, and two leaders, yearning for an end to the bloodshed. “The people of Ukraine and the people of Russia want it to end,” he stated, emphasizing the devastating human cost. “Millions are going to be killed and we don’t want that.”
Prior to Zelensky’s arrival, Trump revealed a recent “good and very productive” phone call with Putin, sharing the information on his social media platform. The conversation, according to Putin’s advisor Yuri Ushakov, lasted over an hour and was described as “friendly, benevolent, and businesslike.”
The meeting unfolded at Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, a deliberate choice of venue for these high-stakes discussions. Zelensky arrived in Miami with a clear agenda: to address security concerns and explore potential economic agreements.
Central to Zelensky’s concerns was the fate of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, a fiercely contested territory that remains a major point of contention between Moscow and Kyiv. He intended to directly raise “territorial issues” with Trump, seeking a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations.
